| Summary: | This collection aims to expand the literature on relay stations in Roman Gaul. The subject, which is of interest to both political and economic history, warrants a new perspective in the light of recent archaeological data emerging for the period from the end of the Republican era to late Antiquity. On the basis of architectural models that could be considered as resulting from specific Roman policies, the contributions brought together in this collection are primarily concerned with providing a detailed analysis of the architecture of these roadside establishments, and the facilities they encompassed. Given their frequency and diversity along the roads of Gaul, micro-regional research thus demonstrates the importance of these establishments for travellers. This introduction provides a historiographical overview of the subject, highlights the issues involved in comparing written and archaeological sources, and sets out the principal categories of such relay stations. It also reminds us of the importance of this network, which provided crucial stopping points for those travelling in the Roman Empire.
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